The Social Security Act prohibits suppliers of durable medical equipment from making unsolicited telephone calls to people on Medicare, yet Montana Senior Medicare Patrol has received multiple reports across Montana of scam calls making the rounds.

Not only have folks been receiving calls selling durable medical equipment, or DME, but several people have received unordered supplies including back braces.

People on Medicare should be aware that DME sent by a supplier needs to be prescribed by their doctor.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, fraudulent telemarketing and DME supplies contribute to the estimated $60 billion in fraudulent Medicare payments each year.If you receive a call that pressures you to buy medical equipment you don’t want or need, HANG UP.

If you received items in the mail you didn’t order, refuse the delivery or send them back and report it to your local SMP office at 1-800-551-3191.

Through Montana SMP, senior volunteers help fellow seniors become pro-active consumers identifying potential mistakes, abuse or fraud in medical billing.

The attached press release has been sent to you as part of the Montana Newspaper Association’s content distribution service. The MNA received payment to share this press release with its members. Distributing the press release does not imply the MNA’s endorsement of the content, and as always, members may publish it at their discretion. MNA members have no obligation to publish material from the paid distribution service.